Centrifugally operable valve ring for centrifugal separators



5, 1954 w. H; HARSTICK CENTRIFUGALLY OPERABLEZ VALVE RING FOR CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATORS Original Filed June 24, 1946 Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CENTRIFUGALLY OPERABLE VALVE RING FOR CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATIORS- William H. Harstick, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Claims.

This is a division of application Serial No. 678,863, filed June 24, 1946, now Patent No. 2,504,261, dated April 18, 1950, for a Cream Separator.

The present invention relates to an improved centriiugally operable valve ring for utilization in a power-washing cream separator.

The prime object of this invention is to provide a self or power-washing cream separating bowl having an improved centrifugally operable valve ring for controlling the discharge of washing liquid from the bowl.

Another object is to provide a centrifugal valve ring for a power-washing cream separator, the valve ring being constructed of a rubber-like material having a plurality of spacer elements projecting outwardly from a peripheral sealing surface on the ring.

The type of centrifugal separating bowl with which the present centrifugal valve means is utilized consists essentially of upper and lowering casing members having a substantially continuous discharge outlet formed at the maximum periphery of the bowl. A centrifugal valve ring is positioned inwardly of and adjacent to the continuous discharge outlet or opening. The valve ring is coextensive with the discharge opening and is adapted to be expanded outwardly for engaging and sealing the opening during high speeds of rotation of the bowl. When it is desired to wash the interior of the bowl with a washing liquid, the rotating speed of the centrifugal bowl is considerably reduced. In applicants improvement the valve ring includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced spacer elements which exert a resilient thrust inwardly on the centrifugal valve ring to space the ring inwardly from the opening during such a decrease in the speed of rotation. In this position washing liquid may be directed to the inner chamber of the bowl, the washing liquid thereupon escaping through the discharge opening for flushing the interior of the bowl.

Further objects will become apparent in the more detailed description which follows:

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevational view of a cream separator bowl including adjacent housing structure, the bowl having porti ns broken away to illustrate the invention.

Figure 2 a sectional view of a centrifugal valve ring showing its relation to the separator bowl, the view being taken substantially along the line 2-Z of Figure i Figure 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing a portion of a centrifugal valve ring.

Referring to the drawing, a centrifugal separator structure is generally designated by the reference character It. The separator structure is includes a rotatable separating bowl ii. The separating bowl H includes an upper bowl shell I2 and a lower bowl portion It. The upper bowl shell I2 is provided near its axis with a collar it having a pair of conventional skimmed milk outlets !4. The lower bowl portion i2 is provided with a downwardly projecting cream outlet l5. The cream outlet I5 is in direct communication with a washing liquid receiving space iii. The receiving space I5 is provided with an upwardly extending mill: inlet tube ll, the milk inlet tube ll being spaced a considerable distance inwardly from the inner peripheral edges l3 of a plurality of superposed separating disks it.

A mill; feed tube 29 is positioned above the mill; inlet tube ll, the milk feed tube 29 being in axial alignment for directing quantities of whole milk to the milk inlet tube ii. A washing liquid tube 2| is provided adjacent the milk feed tube 28, the washing tube being arranged to direct a large quantity of washing liquid to the washing liquid receiving space it.

The lower bowl portion l2 includes a pcripheral portion 22 which is provided with a plurality of diverging spacer elements positioned in circumferentially spaced relation. The spacer elements 23 are best shown in Figures 2 and 3, these elements functioning to space the upper bowl shell [2 from the peripheral portion 22 to provide a substantially continuous annular discharge opening 24.

The upper bowl shell l2 and the lower bowl portion l2 are held in assembled relation by means of a threaded clarnpin ring 25. The clamping ring 25 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots 25 providing in eifect a substantially continuous annular discharge opening 27. The discharge opening 2'5 is in direct registry with the discharge opening 2d, the continuity of the discharge opening 2'? being broken only by the utilization of a plurality of diverging spacers 2? which are circumferentially spaced within the opening 2?.

A centrifugal valve member 28 is positioned within the bowl I I which constitutes a seat there- -for. The centrifugal valve member 28 comprises a ring 29 of deformable elastic material. The present disclosure shows the ring is to be made of a rubber-like material but it must be understood, of course, that any material having elastic qualities might be substituted therefor. The ring 29 is provided with a plurality of circumferential ly spaced projections 36. The projections 38,

as best shown in Figure 3, are integrally formed. with the ring 2e and project outwardly with respect thereto from a sealing edge 3!. The ring 29 is positioned so that the sealing edge 3| is placed immediately adjacent the annular discharge opening 24. by mean of a plurality of wing portions 32 depending from the upper bowl shell I I. The wing portions 32 are provided with cut-outs 33 which serve as supporting means for the valve ring 29.

The lower bowl portion I2 is provided with a central portion 35 which is adapted to connect to a drive shaft 36 in driving relation. The drive shaft 36 may be connected to a power unit, not shown, for effecting rotation of the bowl II.

The bowl I l is suitably supported within a tinware structure 31, the tinware structure 31 including a skim milk receiving chamber 38 and a cream receiving chamber 39.

Operation It is believed unnecessary to describe the function of the cream separator bowl II during the separating operation since this function is well known to those skilled in the art. During the washing operation washing liquid enters into the bowl l I through the washing liquid tube 2|. The washing liquid is distributed to the space (6 whereupon the centrifugal rotation of the bowl flings the washing liquid outwardly between the inner peripheral edges 18 of the disks 19 to effect proper washing of the same.

During the high speed rotation of the separat ing bowl ll, the valve ring has expanded outwardly in response to centrifugal force in a manner wherein the sealing edge 3! is seated tightly against the discharge opening 24 eifectively sea-ling said opening. The high speed of rotation has caused the sealing ring 29 to expand in a manner overcoming the elastic force exerted by the spacer elements or projections 30 which would under lower speeds of rotation space the sealing edge 3| inwardly from the opening 24 as best shown in Figure 3. As additional liquid is directed to the separating bowl the speed of rotation of the separating bowl is materially reduced. At a predetermined speed of rotation the resilient projections 30 are effective to exert a thrust radially inwardly against the valve ring 29 whereupon the valve ring is unseated from the discharge opening 24 as best shown in Figures 2 and 3. The washing liquid thereupon can escape outwardly through the discharge openings 26 and 21 thereby eifectively flushing the interior parts of the bowl.

Applicant by his novel construction has provided an eifective means whereby the sealing ring may be spaced from the discharge opening during a lowering of the speed of rotation of the 'bowl. It is extremely important to effect a complete opening of the discharge outlet so that the washing liquid can be quickly and effectively flushed therethrough. By utilizing a plurality of spacer elements in the manner shown, applicant has ac- The ring 2c is supported complished this desirable object. The spacer elements will exert a resilient thrust inwardly against the sealing ring during a lowering of the speed of rotation. The projections are spaced circumferentially at equal distances and therefore the inward resilient pressure against the valve ring is consistent throughout the peripheral edge of said ring.

It must be understood that various changes may be made in the design of the centrifugal valve ring without departing from the spirit of the invention as disclosed nor the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A centrifugally rotatable valve construction comprising a rotatable valve seat having a discharge opening, an annular rubberlike sealing element positioned adjacent said valve seat, and a plurality of projections on said sealing element, said projections being circumferentially spaced around a peripheral edge of said sealing element for engaging the valve seat during rotation of said valve member whereby said sealing element is retained in laterally spaced relation relative to said discharge opening, said sealing element being centrifugally expansible during high speeds of rotation for engaging and sealing said discharge opening.

2. A centrifugally rotatable valve construction in accordance with claim 1, said projections being comprised of a rubber-like material and being circumferentially spaced about the outer peripheral edge of said sealing element.

3. A centrifugally rotatable valve construction in accordance with claim 2, said discharge opening being substantially coextensive with said annular sealing element.

4. A centrifugally rotatable valve construction in accordance with claim 3, said projections being integral with said sealing element.

5. A centrifugally rotatable valve construction comprising an annular rotatable valve seat having a substantially continuous annular discharge opening, a ring of deformable elastic material supported adjacent said discharge opening, and a plurality of rubber-like projections extending laterally outwardly from the outer peripheral edge of said ring, said projections being adapted to resiliently space the outer peripheral edge of said ring from said discharge opening, said ring being expansible upon rotation of said valve construction for engaging and sealing said discharge opening.

WILLIAM H. HARSIICK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,157,574 Mueller Oct. 19, 1915 1,536,785 Gold May 6, 1925 2,482,570 Acton Sept. 20, 1949 2,555,542 Hintz June 5, 1951 

